Medical Terminology

2. Constructed medical terms:
Many medical terms are ‘constructed’ from a combination of
word parts… prefixes, Greek or Roman root words, and
suffixes. Determine the meaning of the whole word by first
deciphering the meaning of the suffix, then the prefix, and
finally the root word. Then combine the 3 parts.
MICRO / SCOP / IC
Prefix meaning ‘small’ / root word meaning ‘viewing instrument’ / suffix meaning ‘pertaining to’
When you start with a root word and add a suffix that
starts with a consonant OR another root word, then you
have to connect the two word parts with a vowel. This is
called a ‘combining vowel’, and is usually an ‘o, i, or e’.
HEM / O / PHILIA
Root word meaning ‘blood’ / combining vowel / suffix meaning ‘love of’

3. Nonconstructed medical terms:
If a medical term is not constructed from a combination
of word parts, then it is called ‘nonconstructed’. These
are words derived from other languages, words derived
from names of people, from initials that form acronyms,
or from abbreviations. To learn the meanings of
nonconstructed terms, you must simply commit them to
memory.
The term ‘pasteurize’
refers to the process of
heating milk to a
temperature that kills
harmful microorganisms.
The term is derived from
the name of its
inventor… Louis Pasteur
(1822-1895).

4. Medical root words of the skeletal & muscular systems…
ROOT WORD DEFINITION
ABRAS TO RUB AWAY
ALBIN WHITE
CELLUL SMALL CELL
CUTANE SKIN
CYAN BLUE
DERM, DERMAT SKIN
HIDR SWEAT
ONYCH NAIL
PEDICUL BODY LOUSE
RHYTID WRINKLE
SEB SEBUM, OIL
TRICH HAIR

5. Medical prefixes for the skeletal & muscular
systems…
PREFIX DEFINITION
EC- OUTSIDE, OUT
PAR- ALONGSIDE, ABNORMAL

6. Medical suffixes for the skeletal & muscular systems…
SUFFIX DEFINITION
-ION PROCESS
-ITIS INFLAMMATION
-OSIS CONDITION OF
-PLASTY SURGICAL REPAIR

7. Abrasion (ah BRAY zhun)
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
integumentary system…
A common
injury to the
skin, caused by
scraping. It is
considered a
superficial
wound…
affecting just
the surface of
the skin.

8. Abscess (AB sess)
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
integumentary system…
An abscess is a local elevation of inflamed skin
with a cavity underneath… a boil. The cavity is
filled with a mixture of pus, containing bacteria,
white blood cells, damaged tissue, and fluids.
Multiple
abscesses on
the liver

9. Cellulite (SELL yoo light)
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
integumentary system…
Subcutaneous fat
deposits that create a
local, uneven surface on
the skin. It is fairly
common in women on
the thighs and buttocks.
Some people have these
fat deposits removed
using a vacuum-type
device in a procedure
called liposuction.

10. Cicatrix (SIK ah trix)
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
integumentary system…
Cicatrix is the term for
scar. If an injury to the
dermis of the skin is too
large for the epidermal
cells and normal protein
fibers to heal it, then
addition protein fibers
(collagen) will be
produced to seal the
wound, and a scar is
formed.
When the scar tissue
forms an elevated lesion
on the skin, it is called a
keloid (key loyd).

11. Comedo (KŎM ee doh)
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
integumentary system…
Comedones (KOM ee
DOH neez) are
pimples. Oil from
sebaceous glands
builds up, causing an
elevation of the skin.
Bacteria feed on this
oil and attract white
blood cells. This
causes a local
inflammation.
A papule is any small solid
elevation on the skin. An
elevation filled with pus is
called a pustule.

12. Contusion (kon TOO zhun)
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
integumentary system…
Commonly known as a bruise,
it is the discoloration and
swelling of the skin that is
symptomatic of an injury.

13. Cyanosis (sign ah NO siss)
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
integumentary system…
A blue tinge of color to an area
of the skin. It is often a
symptom of cardiovascular
problems. It is usually visible
in the lips and fingertips.
Cyanosis of
the fingers…
and toenails

14. Decubitus Ulcer
(dee KYOO bih tus ULL ser)
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
integumentary system…
An ulcer is a sore that has
worked through the skin or
mucous membrane. When
the body lies supine and un-
moving for extended periods
of time, decubitus ulcers may
result.

15. Erythema (air ih THEE mah)
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
integumentary system…
This is a nonconstructed term.
It refers to any redness of the
skin, which is a common sign
of injury or infection.

16. Furuncle (FOO rung kl)
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
integumentary system…
Associated with
a hair follicle. It
results in
swelling and
redness of the
skin. It is
sometimes the
result of an
ingrown hair.

17. Laceration
(LASS err AY shun)
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
integumentary system…
An injury caused by a tear or cut by a sharp
object. If it penetrates the dermis and extends for
more than an inch, stitches may be needed to
close it.

18. Macule (MAK yool)
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
integumentary system…
A freckle. It is
any discolored
flat spot on the
surface of the
skin. There is
some genetic
tendency to get
freckles. They
may be a sign
of sun damage
to the skin.

19. Nevus (NEE vus)
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
integumentary system…
Commonly
called a mole.
This is a
pigmented,
benign tumor. If
the edges
become
irregular or the
color darkens,
it may indicate
a malignancy.

20. Petechia
(peh TEE kee ah)
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
integumentary system…
Petechia results
when a small blood
vessel supplying the
dermis of the skin
ruptures. It may
appear as a red dot
on the skin.

21. Pruritus (proo RYE tuss)
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
integumentary system…
A nonconstructed term
for itchy skin.

22. Verruca (ver ROO kah)
Medical terms, signs, & symptoms of the
integumentary system…
A wart. It is a
sign of
infection by the
papilloma virus.
The wart, a skin
elevation with a
thickened
epidermis, is an
effort of the
skin to rid itself
of the virus.
Most warts can be treated with
an anti-viral medication.

23. Diseases and disorders of the integumentary
system…
Acne (AK nee)
Bacterial infection of
the sebaceous
glands and ducts,
occurring primarily
during adolescence
when there is a rapid
growth of these
glands. It affects the
face, neck, back,
and chest.
Acne consists of open
comedones (KOM ee DOH neez)
called blackheads and closed
comedones called whiteheads.

24. Diseases and disorders of the integumentary
system…
Alopecia
(al oh PEE she ah)
A loss or lack of
scalp hair known as
baldness. It can be
the sign of a scalp
infection, high
fever, drug
reactions, or stress.
Male-pattern
baldness is genetic.

25. Diseases and disorders of the integumentary
system…
Carbuncle
(KAR bung kl)
A nonconstructed
term. It is a skin
infection composed of
a cluster of boils that
feels hot. The source
of this infection is
most commonly
staphylococci
bacteria… staph.

26. Diseases and disorders of the integumentary
system…
Dermatitis
(der mah TYE tiss)
A general inflammation of the skin that may include
symptoms such as edema (swelling), pruritis (itching),
vesicles (blisters), or wheals (white-centered elevations
with red edges). Includes contact dermatitis (like poison
ivy), seborrheic dermatitis (inherited skin condition).
Actinic dermatitis (from sunlight exposure), and eczema
(flakiness of the epidermis).
Wheals

27. Diseases and disorders of the integumentary
system…
Psoriasis
(soh RYE ah siss)
A nonconstructed
term. It is a chronic,
painful disease of
the skin. It is
inherited, and
consists of red
lesions covered with
silvery-looking
epidermal scales. On the scalp

28. Diseases and disorders of the integumentary
system…
Tinea (TIN ee ah)
A nonconstructed term.
It is a fungal infection of
the skin. Tinea capitis
forms on the scalp;
tinea pedis forms on the
feet (athlete’s foot); tinea
corporis forms
elsewhere on the body
(and may be called ringworm due
to the round shape of the infected
area).

29. Treatments and Procedures for the
integumentary system…
Debridement (dih BREED ment)
To clean any dirt,
foreign matter, or
unwanted tissue
from a wound.

30. Treatments and Procedures for the
integumentary system…
Dermabrasion (DERM ah BRAY zhun)
This is a form of
cosmetic surgery.
Abrasives are used
in a manner similar
to sandpaper to
remove unwanted
scars or other
elevations and
improve the
appearance of the
skin.

31. Treatments and Procedures for the
integumentary system…
Rhytidectomy (rit ih DEK toh mee)
This is a form of plastic surgery performed for
cosmetic reasons. It consists of pulling and
suturing the skin to repair skin wrinkles.

32. Abbreviations associated with the
integumentary system…
HSV Herpes Simplex Virus
Deep blisters form on
the border of mucous
membranes and the
skin, resulting from the
herpes simplex virus…
HSV. Oral herpes,
genital herpes, and
shingles are the three
forms, all infectious
when the vesicles burst
open and fluids are
transferred to others.

33. Abbreviations associated with the
integumentary system…
SLE Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
(sis TEM ik LOO pus air ih them ah TOH siss)
Commonly called
lupus, it is marked
by red patches on
the facial skin and
joint pain. It is a
chronic, progressive
disease of
connective tissue in
many organs
(including the skin).

34. Abbreviations associated with the
integumentary system…
TBSA Total Body
Surface Area
The level of a burn injury to
the skin is determined by the
amount of surface area that
has been damaged (TBSA),
and the depth of the burn. A
person with burns on one
arm and hand is said to have
about a 10 percent TBSA
burn. Even 1st or 2nd degree
burns covering 25%+ TBSA
may be life-threatening.